1980 October Surprise theory

The 1980 October Surprise theory refers to the claim that members of Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign covertly negotiated with Iranian leaders to undermine incumbent President Jimmy Carter by delaying the release of 66 American hostages detained in Iran. The hostage situation, which began when Iranian revolutionaries seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran, was one of the biggest news stories of 1980, and Carter's inability to resolve it is widely believed to have contributed to his loss.

After 12 years of varying media attention, both houses of the United States Congress held separate inquiries and concluded that credible evidence supporting the allegation was absent or insufficient.^[1]^[2] Nevertheless, several individuals—most notably, former Iranian President Abulhassan Banisadr,^[3]^[4] former Lieutenant Governor of Texas Ben Barnes, former naval intelligence officer and U.S. National Security Council member Gary Sick,^[5] and Barbara Honegger,^[6] a former campaign staffer and White House analyst for Reagan and his successor, George H. W. Bush—have stood by the allegation.

^ Task Force to Investigate Certain Allegations Concerning the Holding of American Hostages by Iran in 1980 (January 3, 1993). Joint report of the Task Force to Investigate Certain Allegations Concerning the Holding of American Hostages by Iran in 1980 ("October Surprise Task Force"). Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. pp. 7–11. hdl:2027/mdp.39015060776773. OCLC 27492534. H. Rept. No. 102-1102.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate (November 19, 1992). The "October Surprise" allegations and the circumstances surrounding the release of the American hostages held in Iran. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. p. 114. ISBN 0-16-039795-2. OCLC 28306929. S. Rpt. No. 102-125. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
^ Cite error: The named reference archive3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Neil A Lewis (May 7, 1991). "Bani-Sadr, in U.S., Renews Charges of 1980 Deal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
^ Cite error: The named reference archive2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Honegger, Barbara (1989). October surprise. New York : Tudor Pub. Co. ISBN 978-0-944276-46-4 – via Internet Archive.

[October_Surprise_Task_Force-1] Task Force to Investigate Certain Allegations Concerning the Holding of American Hostages by Iran in 1980 (January 3, 1993). Joint report of the Task Force to Investigate Certain Allegations Concerning the Holding of American Hostages by Iran in 1980 ("October Surprise Task Force"). Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. pp. 7–11. hdl:2027/mdp.39015060776773. OCLC 27492534. H. Rept. No. 102-1102.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[Committee_on_Foreign_Relations,_United_States_Senate-2] Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate (November 19, 1992). The "October Surprise" allegations and the circumstances surrounding the release of the American hostages held in Iran. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. p. 114. ISBN 0-16-039795-2. OCLC 28306929. S. Rpt. No. 102-125. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2019.

[archive3-3] Cite error: The named reference archive3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[NYT20090731-4] Neil A Lewis (May 7, 1991). "Bani-Sadr, in U.S., Renews Charges of 1980 Deal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved July 31, 2009.

[archive2-5] Cite error: The named reference archive2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[archive-6] Honegger, Barbara (1989). October surprise. New York : Tudor Pub. Co. ISBN 978-0-944276-46-4 – via Internet Archive.

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